How many calories do you burn skiing? 

Skiing is a fantastic activity for people of all ages, offering a challenging yet fun activity for everyone to enjoy. There’s no denying that skiing can be a physically demanding sport – but just how many calories can you expect to burn while you’re out on the pistes?

In this article, we explore the impact that skiing can have on your physical health, as well as how this sport can benefit your mental wellbeing. 

Is skiing good exercise? 

Skiing is a high intensity sport that’s bound to get your adrenaline pumping – but is it actually considered to be a good form of exercise? Below, we take a look at some of the reasons why this sport could be good news for your health. 

Burns calories

Skiing can help you burn a fair amount of calories. The number of calories you burn will depend on a variety of factors, including your weight and your skiing ability. As an example, a person weighing 11 stone could expect to burn around 223 calories during a 30-minute downhill ski session. You will also burn a few extra calories walking to and from the ski lifts. 

It’s worth noting that, in theory, the steeper the slope, the more calories you will burn. This is because the body needs to work harder to remain balanced. What’s more, lower temperatures can also contribute to the amount of calories burned due to the fact that the body needs to do more to raise its own temperature. 

Improves cardiovascular health

Skiing is a great cardiovascular workout. Just like with all the muscles in the body, your heart becomes stronger the more exercise you do. So, spending time on the slopes can benefit your body’s whole cardiovascular system. As a result, you should notice an improvement in your overall fitness and stamina.

Boosts mood

It’s no secret that spending time outdoors in the fresh air can significantly boost your mental, as well as physical, health – and even more so if you’re exercising. Whether you’re in awe of the iconic peaks of Meribel or mesmerised by the snowy Alps of Zermatt, soaking up the beautiful scenery around you can be both inspiring and relaxing in equal measure. Meanwhile, moving your body promotes the increased production of endorphins, also known as ‘happy hormones’. All of this combined with an increased dose of vitamin D from the sunshine can leave you feeling a sense of happiness and relief as you enjoy time away from your everyday routine. 

Improves strength and flexibility

Skiing is an art of balancing and engaging the core muscle groups, especially as it requires the body to change direction quickly and frequently. Because of this, it builds muscle strength in almost all muscle groups from head to toe. As with all exercise, especially an intense whole-body workout like skiing, it is vital to warm up beforehand and stretch afterwards to maintain flexibility and to reduce muscle strains too.

Strengthens joints and bones

While it provides a full body workout, skiing can be especially beneficial to the legs. As you ski, your knees and ankles endure the tension and weight of your body as you make your way downhill. The impact of this movement of weight across the lower body can strengthen your joints and bones, helping you to feel strong and nimble.

Are ski holidays good for your health?  

It’s clear to see that skiing can have a significantly positive impact on both your physical and mental health – but it’s not just the sport itself that can have this effect on your body and mind.

The truth is, there’s so much more to a ski holiday than hitting the slopes.

When you’re not tearing up snowy pistes, there are plenty of other activities to choose from. The best ski chalets offer a whole range of in-house amenities and you’ll also find après ski entertainment on offer that can help you unwind during your trip. 

Whether you hit up the gym for a post-ski workout, relax at the spa, or simply spend quality time with your loved ones in front of a roaring fire at your luxury ski chalet, there are an abundance of ways you can indulge in a little downtime away from the pistes. You could also venture into the resort to check out the shops on offer for a spot of retail therapy, or book a table at one of the many restaurants for the best in fine dining.

Related Articles